Cigar lighter



J. slNKo CIGAR LIGHTER Aug. 23, 1938.

Qriginal Filed May l0, 1954 Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Divided and this application August 15, 1936, Serial No.' 96,274

9 Claims.

This invention relates to electric cigar lighters of the type used on automobiles and more particularly to those commonly known as wireless lighters because the igniting plug may be removed from the bas-e or holder and used for lighting a cigar, cigarette, or pipe without maintaining electrical connection with the socket member.

In the embodiment illustrated the igniting unit is removably held in the socket with one of its terminals out of electrical contact with the basecontact member in the socket, but by pressing the plug into the socket against a spring resistance, the circuit is closed through the heating element and when the pressure on the plug is released it automatically opens the circuit and the igniting plug is ready for use.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved lighter oi the above character, simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and positive in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved switch or contact unit in the socket member wherein a movable contact member or Asleeve is always kept in electrical contact with a source of current supply without relying upon a sliding contact.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fixed base-contact member in the socket which is secured against rotation so that in the event the igniting plug is twisted while in contact therewith to improve the electrical connection, the base-contact member will not turn or become loose.

The present application is a division of my ap plication No. 724,849, liled May 10, 1934,

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing', in which- Figure 1 is an assembled view showing the assembled socket casing and igniting plug; Fig. 2 a broken elevational view showing how the igniting plug lits into the casing; Fig. 3 a vertical sectional view through the assembly, taken as indicated, at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a sectional view, taken as indicated, at line 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 an elevational view showing the Contact unit removed from the casing; Fig. 6 a sectional View, taken as indicated, at line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 'l a sectional view, taken as indicated, at line I--1 of Fig. 3.

- In the embodiment illustrated A designates a tubular casing; B a contact unit secured in the inner end of said casing; and C a removable igniting plug adapted to t into the casing and make electrical contact with the two terminals of a source of electricalsupply by means of the contact unit B.

The outer shell of the casing A may have an enlarged cylindrical portion 8 to permit light rays from the igniting element to travel out through an annular passage 9 to a transparent or translucent ring II! which is secured to the casing by means of a shroud ring I I. An inner supporting sleeve I2 is shown carried by the ring lt and may be provided with an inwardly extendingl yielding tongue I3 for pressing against the body of the plug to hold it frictionally within the socket. As shown in Figs. l and 2 the casing A may be further provided with Ventilating apertures I4 to permit heat from the lighting element to escape.

The contact unit B is shown with an inverted cup shaped central post I5 Whose lower end is turned outwardly and upwardly to form a iiange I6 which serves as a seat for a compression spring I1. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, ears I8 are struck out of the ange I6 and are adapted to nt into slots provided in a washer I9 which is secured to the inner end of the casing A by means of a bushing 20 which has its outer -end turned over the inner marginal portion of the washer as indicated at 2|. The bushing is shown provided with a lock washer 22 and a nut 23 for attaching the casing to the dashboard of the car by means of a yoke (not shown).

To the upper end of the post I5 is fixedly secured a contact spider 24 and is insulated from the post by means of an upper insulating washer 25 and a lower insulating washer 25, the assembly being iirmly gripped by means of a hollow center stud 21 in which is secured a pigtail 28 leading to a source of electrical supply. rlhe pigtail is provided with the usual insulation 29 below the stud and may be further protected by means of a ber sleeve 30 extending into the bushing 20. A contact sleeve 3| provides a movable contact socket to receive the igniting plug C. The sleeve is provided with an inwardly eX- tending flange 32 which is slidingly mounted on the post I5 and is urged upwardly against the insulating disk 25 by means of the compression spring I'l. The contact sleeve provides one of the connections with an electrical source and .it will be noted that the spring maintains positive electrical contact with the same without relying on sliding connections or contacts which may occur with the casing A which is usually grounded to the dashboard of a car. Preferably the flange I6 makes a snug pressed t with the lower portion of the casing A to hold the contact unit in position, while the contact sleeve 3| is freely slidable within the casing.

The igniting plug C is shown provided with the usual handle or knob 33 which is secured to the conducting body portion 34 by means of a threaded coupling 35 which may be made of insulating material. The body portion 34 is shown provided with an annular shoulder 3E which is adapted to be engaged by the contact sleeve 3|.

On the inner end of the body portion is prcvided a contacting cup shaped member 3T to which one end of the coil of resistance wire 38 is connected. The cup is held insulated from the body portion by means of insulating washers 3S and and the other end of the coil 38 is secured to a center stud 4| which serves to grip the assembly together and connect the coil to the body portion 34.

As Will be readily understood the plug is normally held in inoperative position as shown in Fig. 3, and by pressing upon the knob 33 against the tension of spring the rim of the cup 3l may engage the Contact member 24. This closes a circuit through the heating coil 38 traced from the live conductor or pigtail 28, center stud 2l, base-contact member 24, cup 31, heating element 3B, stud 4|, body member 34, contact sleeve 3|, spring l1, flange I6, and the outer shell or casing A which is grounded to the dashboard of a car. When the heating coil reaches incandescence, a condition which may be observed by glowing of the ring I0, the plug may be withdrawn for use.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a cigar lighter: an elongated socket casing adapted to receive an igniting plug; an igniting plug adapted for insertion in said casing, said plug having an inwardly extending shank of conducting material provided with an annular shoulder, and said plug having at its inner end an ignition element with one end connected to said plug shank and the other connected to a contactmember mounted on and insulated from the plug shank; and a contact unit in the base of the casing comprising a central post on which is mounted and insulated from the casing a base contact-member for engaging said plug contactmember, a spring actuated contact sleeve slidably mounted on said post but insulated from the base contact-member and extending outwardly around the ignition element into engagement with the annular shoulder of the plug to maintain electrical connection with the ignition element and yieldingly maintain the base contact-member and plug contact-member out of electrical engagement but permitting connection therebetween by manual pressure upon the plug to close the circuit for the ignition element.

2. In a cigar lighter: a xed tubular casing adapted to receive an igniting plug; an igniting plug provided at its inner end with a cup contactmember in which is mounted a resistance wire having one end connected to said cup and the other end to a contactor on said plug insulated from the cup; and a contact unit in the base of said casing comprising an outwardly extending fixed post on which is xedly mounted an insulated base-contact member adapted to be engaged by said cup, a socket-sleeve slidably mounted in said casing below said base-contact member and adapted to receive said plug and make contact with said contactor around the plug, and a spring on said post serving yieldingly to urge the socket sleeve outwardly to prevent contact between said cup and base-contact member and serving to maintain electrical connection between said sleeve and tubular casing.

3. A device as specied in claim 2, in which the contact unit is provided with inwardly extending ears to engage slots at the end of the casing and prevent the unit from turning with respect thereto.

4. A device as specified in claim 2, in which the post is provided at its base with an annular cupped flange to form a seat for the spring and make a press-t connection with the side wall of the casing.

5. A device as specified in claim 2, in which the socket sleeve is provided with an inwardly extending Ilange encircling said post, and an insulating washer is ixedly mounted on the outer end of the post between base-contact member and post so as to limit the outward movement of said flange and prevent the sleeve from contacting the base-contact member.

6. A device as specified in claim 2, in which the base-contact member is in the form of a spider secured to said post by means of a hollow center stud in which is mounted a pigtail connected to a source of current supply.

7. In a cigar lighter: a nxed tubular casing adapted to receive an igniting plug; an igniting plug provided at its inner end with a cup-shaped contact member in which is mounted a resistance wire having one end connected to said cup and the other end to a contactor on said plug insulated from the cup; a slotted washer mounted on the inner end of said casing so as not to rotate with respect thereto; and a contact unit in the base of said casing comprising a contact terminal insulated from the casing and interlocked .against rotation with respect thereto by means of ears projecting into said slotted washer whereby a clean electrical contact can be obtained by twisting the cup-shaped contact on the plug thereagainst, and an electrical conductor extending through an end wall of the casing and having its end permanently connected to said contact terminal.

8. In a cigar lighter: a fixed tubular casing adapted to receive an igniting plug; an igniting plug provided at its inner end with a cup-shaped contact member in which is mounted a resistance wire having one end connected to said cup and the other end to a contactor on said plug insulated from the cup; a slotted washer in the inner end of the casing; a bushing extending through the end wall of said casing and having its outer end turned over the inner marginal portion of said washer to secure the washer in position; and a contact unit in said casing comprising a contact terminal mounted on an insulating washer and interlocked against rotation with respect to said casing by means of ears projecting into the slots in said washer, and an electrical conductor extending through said bushing and insulated therefrom, said conductor having its end permanently connected to said contact terminal.

9. A device as specified in claim 8, in which the bushing has an externally threaded shank in rear of the casing for securing the casing to the dashboard of a car.

JOHN SINKO. 

